Scare as dead birds recovered in Kullu

Our Correspondent

KULLU, JANUARY 19

The first case of death of four crows and three mynahs near Shamshi area of Kullu yesterday created an atmosphere of fear in the area. The dead birds were spotted by the residents, who informed the authorities of the Animal Husbandry Department.

Dr Sanjeev Nadda, Deputy Director animal health and breeding, Kullu, said that samples of the dead birds were sent to the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL), Jalandhar, to be examined for deadly H5N1 virus.

Nadda said that animal husbandry and forest departments took immediate action and inspected the area. No external symptoms of bird flu were found in the normal test. He said that the report of the samples will be received after about five days and only after that the real cause of the death of birds would be ascertained.

Nadda said that during inspection, it was found that four mobile towers were also installed in the area and the death of birds could be due to electromagnetic radiation emitted from these towers or any other reason. He said that no external symptoms of bird flu have been detected so far in the domestic poultry birds.

He said that the officers and employees of the department were constantly visiting various villages and monitoring the situation. He appealed to the masses not to panic and immediately inform the Animal Husbandry Department or 1077 in case any dead birds were spotted.